Custom Bike Building Basics
Product ID: 3907447
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Custom Bike Building Basics is the basic bible that at-home builders need to build and modify their own motorcycle. Before you can build that dream bike, you need a place to work and a set of tools to work with. Chapter One covers these topics and more, including the need for a quality compressor and a decent motorcycle lift. Home-built bikes and their components are built from steel, so working with steel, and welding steel, are two essential topics. Cycle Source magazine and Chris Callen start with how to buy the right steel and move on to setting up the welder and doing your first welds. Grassroots bikes are often built using a "donor bike" as the foundation and source for the majority of parts. Chapters Four and Five offer tips on choosing the best donor bike, and scrounging the swap meets for the things that didn't come along with that bike. Once you have most of the parts, you still need to create a plan. Chris suggests you put it all down on paper, whether it's just a notebook of ideas or an elaborate sketch of the dream bike. With a plan and most of the parts, it's time to build a roller. This could also be called the need for a mock-up chapter. This is a chance to see how things fit together in the real world, what might be needed for wheel spacers, and exactly how the fenders should mount. Fender fitment brings up the next major topic - sheet metal fabrication. In addition to sheet metal, anyone who plans to build a bike will need to build everything from engine mounts to handle bars, topics covered in Chapters Nine and Ten. The final topics are two that most of us find very intimidating: upholstery and wiring. With one chapter on each topic, the mystery and fear are eliminated. Simple leather work is not rocket science. And basic wiring, especially for a bike without turn signals or electric start, is likewise a pretty straightforward operation - especially with the help of a good how-to chapter on each topic. Custom Bike Building Basics is the one book you need before you tear into that donor bike and begin the process of creating your own motorcycle. Review: Really enjoyed the builds - This book leads you through a couple builds and I would say makes an assumption you have worked on SOMETHING with an engine. There is more than sufficient information contained in this book with excellent pictures on building a custom bike from an old pan head to something with all new parts dropped off by UPS. This book will remain a reference book for all my future bikes, there's great reminders on organization of the parts and work, something we're not known for. Review: its a nice book and good for the beginner looking to learn ... - its a nice book and good for the beginner looking to learn about building bikes not super in depth but helps you learn about choppers ,I olny knew about dirtbikes and learned a great deal from this book
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,459,228 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #73 in Bike Repair #349 in Motorcycle Repair & Performance (Books) #381 in Vehicle Owner's Manuals & Maintenance Guides |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 118 Reviews |
T**Y
Really enjoyed the builds
This book leads you through a couple builds and I would say makes an assumption you have worked on SOMETHING with an engine. There is more than sufficient information contained in this book with excellent pictures on building a custom bike from an old pan head to something with all new parts dropped off by UPS. This book will remain a reference book for all my future bikes, there's great reminders on organization of the parts and work, something we're not known for.
J**F
its a nice book and good for the beginner looking to learn ...
its a nice book and good for the beginner looking to learn about building bikes not super in depth but helps you learn about choppers ,I olny knew about dirtbikes and learned a great deal from this book
G**N
Help with building your own motorcycle.
Having been a long time reader of Cycle Source magazine I really looked forward to this book. I enjoy the articles about do it yourself tech for home builders. This book has a lot of those tips and a section on work shop set up and tool selection. These sections alone probably justify the cost of the book for a first time builder. That being said I would have liked to see expanded coverage of electrical wiring, wheel lacing and chassis set up. As it is the book is still a useful addition to your library if you are building you own custom motorcycle.
B**G
Small book for a big subject
Pretty good compared to the competition. In the same vein as the magazine "The Horse Back Street Choppers" which has, over the years from around 2000 to present, some better articles, some truly great articles, and generally some not so good. The book has some really important info for me such as wiring which could be a little more comprehensive. Paint is not my thing: paint it black! For exhaust pipe work go to a race car book that has header building: there is a little piece that goes into both ends of the joint that is real slick. How 'bout a lot more on building a frame jig? But I like the author's attitude.
E**E
Excellent - A must have !!!!!!!!!!!
I am an avid reader of Cycle Source magazine and look forward to receiving my latest issue every month because of the high quality content of each and every issue. When I saw that Chris Callen had written a book , I knew I had to have it. "Custom Bike Building Basics" is NOT a compilation of old Cycle Source articles - this is all new text and pics to help show you how to build a scoot of your own at home and how to do it on a budget - the right way. This book is a must have for anyone that wants to build or is currently building their own chopper or bobber. No, this book isn't going to make you into a master mechanic but it is going to show you the details and steps involved in building a bike from the ground up. My advice - BUY THIS BOOK - and buy it now !!!!!! And if you don't subscribe to Cycle Source - do yourself a favor and subscribe to it as well - it's only $25 a year for 12 issues. Trust me, you will be thanking me later. [...]
M**A
Great product
Great product
A**O
Informative.
My brother in law rebuilds motorcycles as a hobby and thought it was informative.
G**K
More like a book-length sales brochure.
Not much practical help in here. Seems mostly like a brochure that convinces you that there are lots of options.
M**E
Five Stars
Excellent book, arrived 3 days later than advised but hey ho.
V**T
Conseils à suivre!!
J ai un projet de moto custom. Les conseils qui sont donnés dans le livre sont du bon sens mais pas que j'essaie de les suivre. (Stage de soudure,. renseignements auprès de pro.
A**R
First time builder.
It is an excellent book for a first time builder.
O**A
simple and true
very good startup lecture with nice overviews and helpfull hints for the passionate and clueless. fix place in everyones garage bookshelf!
C**S
nothing new
Not the worst book I've seen on this subject but the title promised more and delivered nothing different. Where are the tips and tricks, it's just the same old build up picture book, buy Mr Miguels book instead.
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5 days ago
3 days ago